Hugo Largo

Hugo Largo was an American musical group known for their unique lineup: two bass guitars, a violin and singer/performance artist Mimi Goese.

The band formed in 1984, initially featuring Tim Sommer (a WNYU DJ, journalist for Trouser Press and The Village Voice, and former member of Even Worse), Greg Letson (who Sommer had met while they played together in the Glenn Branca Ensemble), and Goese. In January 1981, Letson left, and was replaced by Adam Peacock. Shortly thereafter, they were joined on violin by Hahn Rowe, who had been engineering their live sound. In February 1987 they released the Michael Stipe-produced EP Drum (Stipe also sang backing vocals on two tracks). This was reissued in 1988 as a full album with additional material on Brian Eno's label, Opal Records. Their second album, Mettle, was released in 1989, first on Opal, then on All Saints Records. This lineup of the band performed their final shows in July 1989.

In late 1990, Goese, Peacock and Rowe decided to reform the band without founding member Sommer (who had become an MTV veejay). Placing an ad in the Village Voice, they recruited bass player Bill Stair (Art Objects). This new lineup of Hugo Largo spent several months rehearsing and composing new material before making their debut at a sold-out gig at the Knitting Factory on April 12, 1991. Michael Stipe and Mike Mills of R.E.M. - in New York for a taping of Saturday Night Live - were in attendance. The reformed lineup played several more shows in New York, but a third album was never recorded (although some demos and live recordings were made). Hugo Largo played their last gig at the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage on September 5, 1991.